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How to Store Your Classic Car for the Winter Months

If you own a classic car, you’re likely starting to worry about how to properly store it during the winter. As winter approaches, it is crucial to prepare your car for the changing weather. Follow these directions to make sure that you don’t encounter any problems with your classic car this winter!

Proper Preparation

As the owner of a classic car, you already know how easy it is for a car to get damaged even while it is just sitting in a garage. Brakes lock up, batteries die, paint blisters, fiberglass cracks, metal rusts, and rubber rots.

In order to avoid major issues during the winter, it is important that you give your car a thorough detailing. Wash your car carefully, paying special attention to the underside of the car as well. Once it has dried out, wax the entire car. However, don’t buff the wax off of the chrome surfaces until you’re ready to take the car out of storage. The wax will prevent the deterioration of your paint job during the winter.

Once you have determined where you’re going to store the car for the winter, park it one last time and then drain or change all of the fluids. That means the oil, the coolant, the fluid in the brake system, and the fuel should either be emptied completely or replaced. Check your filters as well and replace them if needed. Fill your universal joints with fresh grease.

To protect your battery, carefully remove it from the car. Wash the battery thoroughly, and then air it out until it is completely dry. Store the battery on a shelf in a dry space.

Proper Storage

Finding a safe space to store your classic car through the winter months is the most challenging part of this process. Experts say that the best place possible is a dry, airy barn. If you don’t have access to such a barn, a wood or brick garage will protect your car better than a concrete option.

Once your car is detailed and parked, roll the windows down so that the interior will get some airflow during the months ahead. Strategically position boxes of baking soda inside the car in order to soak up any moisture in the air. Next, find an old rag to stuff up the tailpipe in order to deter vermin from crawling up inside the car.

The final step is to cover up your classic car. Choose your cover carefully, because different fabrics may have a negative effect on your car. The best option is a cotton flannel fabric, because it will allow the car to breathe as air flows through the room. In addition, cotton flannel will be gentle on your car’s paintjob. Cotton/polyester blends are less desirable because they usually trap heat and moisture. Plastic covers should be avoided at all costs.

Wherever you store your classic car, it is ideal to start it up and take it out for a spin at least once a month, even in the dead of winter. If that isn’t possible, these precautions should still protect your car from the majority of problems that could arise. Don’t hesitate to give us a call at All Glass and Upholstery to help give your ride a once over after the winter months!